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Modern Weights and Measurements of Wild Lions
Modern Weights and Measurements of Wild Lions
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Modern Weights and Measurements of Wild Lions
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 (05-13-2022, 11:03 AM)Khan85 Wrote: If it's the paper comparing sizes of lions and tigers, then I already tried my luck with that. Vertical writing makes it almost impossible to translate properly. Yes, is the Japanese one. I read the first part, about the records of Barbary and Cape lions, and also the exceptional Amur tigers, and his conclusion Is that are unreliable and exagerated, and that those of Barbary are from captivity and the big ones are dubious as no method of measurement is described, plus the fact that as the original document are in different languages, many details are lost in the translations. 
I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response :
"Good afternoon Largest male we weighed was 235 kg on an almost empty stomach. Female was 180 kg, stomach almost empty. Regards" Next , I asked him from which region of Botswana do these specimens specifically belong to and if he can share any more weights of lions he's immobilized . Following was his response : "Hi These lions were in the Okavango Delta. I remember only the two heaviest lions. regards" I'm happy that we finally have some weights for Okavango Delta lions but at the same time , we just know the heaviest specimens recorded there. Hopefully , in the future , these researchers will share further data on the body mass and body measurements of these lions.  (07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response :No pictures?  (07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response : Huge female. If you can, try and get some body measurements as well. Always nice to have free ranging wild Lion weights. (07-15-2022, 08:27 PM)Hairy tummy Wrote:Unfortunately , no.(07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response :No pictures?  (07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response : Wow. Thanks for this interesting data Jerricson. I would be interested to know how many lions were weighed. A male lion of 235 kg on an almost empty stomach is definitely very large but by far (carefully expressed) not the maximum. But a lioness of 180 kg on a nearly empty stomach is the maximum (it would proportionally correspond to a male of 250-272 kg on a nearly empty stomach, to put it in perspective). As far as I know, a young lion was measured in Okavango Delta (197.5 cm and 130.5 cm chest) and was estimated at 240 kg by the wildlife veterinarian. I had long ago contacted Eric Vereyyne, who immobilized numerous lions in the Okavango Delta. He wrote to me that he estimated the largest lion he darted at well over 250 kg. Unfortunately i do not have more information regarding the delta lions. As far as I know another lioness in Kalahari weighed 183 kg but no reference was made to stomach contents (MacFarlane Thesis 2014). In contrast to your information, I had received information from the Kruger National Park. I am not sure yet if I should share this here. About 30 years ago 5 male lions were immobilized in Kruger National Park. The 5 males weighed 230-240 kg with the heaviest weighed 240 kg. They did not eat for 2 days, indicating that had little stomach contents. (07-16-2022, 10:19 PM)TemptingFate Wrote:Interesting data you've got there regarding those Kruger males. Btw can you share the quoting from the researcher ?(07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response : (07-18-2022, 11:01 AM)Jerricson Wrote:(07-16-2022, 10:19 PM)TemptingFate Wrote:Interesting data you've got there regarding those Kruger males. Btw can you share the quoting from the researcher ?(07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response : "I recall capturing male lions in Kruger National Park where there were males of around 240kg which was specifically noted at the time that these were large lions. Group of 5 weighed between 230 and 240kg and hadn’t recently fed (last two days) -if my memory serves me correct after ~30years" Also a veterinarian from the Kruger National Park wrote this to me: I don't recall exactly but it was around 225kg not more. 
Three lion weights, from Nambiti Game Reserve (South Aftica).
One is a young specimen of only 2 years old and weighed 146 kgs (2022). Two years ago 2 adult males were weighed and they respectively scaled 226 kgs and 238 kgs, big boys above average! Info by Leanne Deetlefs  *This image is copyright of its original author
Very great news people.
Interestingly, I've come across Rob the Ranger who's a very famous ranger guide (I guess many of you readers have watched his videos kn YouTube, they show the magnificence of African wildlife) and he's somewhat confirmed that a long ago a lion was allegedly weighed to be 309 kg!!  *This image is copyright of its original author Older messages  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Then email by Wildlife Manager Willie Coetzee  *This image is copyright of its original author Rob The Ranger confirmed that the darting was on a bait. He was there at the capture and weighing. However he does not remember the weight really but was around that mark what was officially given by the wildlife warden. But was sure it was the heaviest lion he has ever seen being weighed. So capture and weighing took place and thanks to the warden who provided the info. I'm very interested to know all of your opinions regarding this allegedly record breaking lion. Was confirmed as gorged, but still very large. What could an hypothetical empty weight estimation of it be? 
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About #447: according to Rob the rangers: "Easily 50 kilos of that would have been meat in the stomach" is already a record, I think... (08-23-2022, 04:24 AM)Spalea Wrote: About #447: according to Rob the rangers: "Easily 50 kilos of that would have been meat in the stomach" is already a record, I think...Probably is, but You know I don't know if I have to take it just as a guess estimate. I've been reading a lot of Guate's posts and from what I've seen it's a bit unlikely that modern cats can gorge themselves that much, since he's posted that 20 - 30+ kg is generally the max range for stomach content of both lions and tigers
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But, the amazing point is the fact that it is the Rob the ranger's assertion. This man knows the lions, don't he ? Either this lion is a true monster (it is simply big according to its mensurations) or I don't know... . |
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